Bush Beans in Zone 11a & 11b
Phaseolus vulgaris
Yes, bush beans grow in zones 11a and 11b. Plant them outside in Sep–Apr. For a fall crop, plant out in Sep–Apr.
When to plant bush beans in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Sep–Apr |
| Estimated harvest | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists bush beans for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of bush beans in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage)Sep–Apr
- Collard GreensSep–Jan
- Escarole (Endive)Sep–Mar
- Lima BeanSep–Apr
- Mustard GreensSep–Jan
Bush beans are about as low-effort as vegetable gardening gets: direct-sow the seed after your last frost, skip the trellis entirely, and harvest in under two months. They're a good crop to fill a bed with while slower plants like peppers and tomatoes are still getting established.
How bush beans fit zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Bush Beans planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 22–May 29 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 5a & 5bSpring window | Not usually | May 17–May 24 | Jul 11–Jul 18 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Jul 28–Aug 11 | Sep 21–Oct 5 |
| 6a & 6bSpring window | Not usually | May 2–May 9 | Jun 26–Jul 3 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Aug 7–Aug 21 | Oct 1–Oct 15 |
| 7a & 7bSpring window | Not usually | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jun 11–Jun 18 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Aug 17–Aug 31 | Oct 11–Oct 25 |
| 8a & 8bSpring window | Not usually | Apr 1–Apr 8 | May 26–Jun 2 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Sep 2–Sep 16 | Oct 27–Nov 10 |
| 9a & 9bSpring window | Not usually | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 18–Apr 25 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Sep 27–Oct 11 | Nov 21–Dec 5 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Not usually | Mar–Apr | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
| Summer window | Not usually | Aug–Sep | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
| 11a & 11bFall window (your zone) | Not usually | Sep–Apr | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
Harvest dates are about 55 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
- Sweet Corn: The classic 'three sisters' pairing. WSU Extension confirms the real mechanism: corn stalks give beans something to climb, beans fix nitrogen the corn uses, and squash (the third sister) shades the soil to suppress weeds. (usually zones 3-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
- Cucumber: Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding cucumbers use.
Where to buy bush bean seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's bush bean seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Provider: Johnny's Selected Seeds notes Provider tolerates cool soils and can be planted earlier than other bush beans, with high resistance to Bean Common Mosaic Virus and powdery mildew, a solid, forgiving choice for a first bean planting. Buy: Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Jade (F1): Johnny's calls it arguably their best-tasting bush bean, with 6-7 inch slender pods and high yields even under heat or cold stress. Buy: Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing bush beans" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Bush Beans in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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